Animal identification device with outer carrier molded around internal capsule

ABSTRACT

In an identification device, which is arranged to be fastened on an animal, a signal device operative for identification purposes is placed in a cavity of a hard capsule which in turn is surrounded by a soft carrier material. By the soft carrier material the identification device is flexible in an area between the capsule, and the part of the identification device which is to be fastened to the animal. The soft carrier material is molded around the capsule, which is formed in one piece around the cavity and has an opening for the introduction of the signal device into the cavity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention concerns an identification device arranged to befastened on an animal, e.g. a pig, and comprising a carrier made of arelatively soft material and a capsule carried by the carrier and madeof a relatively hard material, the capsule having an inner cavity formedto contain signal means arranged to cooperate wirelessly with a sensingequipment situated at a distance from the animal.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A previously known identification device of this kind, shown in FIG. 6of EP-A1 0219 186, comprises a two-piece hard capsule, in which signalmeans can be placed, and a soft carrier arranged to enclose the capsule.The shown carrier is formed such that two parts of it are to beconnected with each other after the signal means has been placed withinthe capsule and the capsule has been placed in a particular space thatis formed between the carrier parts when put together.

The previously known identification device has a construction that isdisadvantageous in severals respects. Thus, the carrier has a relativelycomplicated shape due to the fact that two parts thereof are later to beconnected with each other. Further, so that the carrier shall be able toresist safely those forces to which it may be subjected when fastened onan animal, e.g. forces caused by biting of other animals, it isnecessary that the connection of the different carrier parts beperformed in a qualified manner. Both of these circumstances make thepreviously known identification device expensive to manufacture. If, asis proposed in EP-A1 0219 186, the two carrier parts are heat sealedtogether, it will then be impossible in practice to exchange the encasedsignal means if required.

One object of the present invention is to provide a construction for anidentification device of the initially defined kind, which enables avery cheap production of such identification devices and which makes theidentification devices very resistant to the forces to which they may besubjected when used.

Another object of the invention is that a construction improved in thismanner should enable a substantially complete finishing of the capsuleas well as the carrier before the signal means is placed in the capsule,the finalizing production moment, i.e. arrangement of the signal meansin the capsule, being performable in a simple and cheap manner and thefinal product, in spite of this, being able to resist the forces towhich it may be subjected when used.

A further object of the invention is that an improved construction ofthe identification device should enable exchange of the signal meansrelatively easily if required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

For the fulfilling of these objects it is proposed according to theinvention that an identification device of the initially defined kind isformed such that the soft carrier material is molded around the capsuleand the capsule is formed in one piece around said cavity and has anopening for the introduction of said signal means in the cavity.

Hereby, the capsule may be given the largest possible strength, and itsopening for the introduction of the signal means may easily be closedwhen the signal means is in place. Further, the carrier may be molded,e.g. injection molded, around the capsule while said opening of thecapsule is kept free from carrier material by means of a pin or othersuitable filling member, which when removed leaves an opening also inthe carrier, aligned with the opening in the capsule.

Only the opening in the carrier need be closed later on, which can beperformed in an easy way by means of a plug which possibly may be meltedtogether with the carrier material around the opening.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the capsule is elongated, theinsertion opening for the signal means being situated at one of the endsof the capsule. The carrier material, preferably a plastic, preferablyforms a thin layer around substantially the whole of the capsule.

An identification device according to the invention may be fastened forinstance to an ear of a pig. Then a first part of the carrier is formedto be fastened on the pig and a second part of the carrier surrounds thesaid capsule. A third part of the carrier situated between the two firstsaid carrier parts should be formed so that it is flexible. Thanks tosuch a flexibility and the soft material of the carrier the risk isminimal for the pig to be injured. It is further prevented, thanks tothe hard capsule, that the fragile signal means therein is destroyed bybiting by other pigs. By the fact that the soft material surroundsessentially the whole of the capsule the latter may be carried by thecarrier without use of special fastening means, such as rivets or thelike.

By giving substantially the whole outside surface of the capsule aconvex form, for instance so that the capsule gets the form of an egg,one can make it even more difficult to destroy the capsule by biting.The capsule thereby can be given the smallest possible dimensions withregard to the size of the sensible signal means which it is to contain.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the Animal Identification Deviceaccording to the present invention, with portions of a cavity and signaldevice shown in phantom;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along line II--II of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of theidentification device hereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an identification device intended to be fastened tothe ear of an animal, such as a pig or a cow. The identification devicehas a carrier 1 of a relatively soft material, for instance some elasticthermoplast, and a capsule 2 substantially completely surrounded by saidmaterial and made of a relatively hard material, for instance some glasfibre reinforced thermoset plastic.

The carrier 1 comprises a first plate formed plane part 1A and a secondpart 1B surrounding the capsule 2 by a layer of material having aboutthe same thickness as the plate formed plane part 1A. This isillustrated in FIG. 1 by a dotted ellipse. The different parts of thecarrier are formed in one piece by molding, e.g. injection molding,around the capsule 2.

For its fastening on to an animal the plate formed plane part of thecarrier has an annular thicker portion 3 with a through hole 4. Thecapsule 2 being formed like an egg has a central cavity 5. The cavity 5extends along the longitudinal axis of the capsule (illustrated in FIG.1 by dotted lines) and has a slightly conical shape. At its widest endthe cavity communicates with an opening 6 in the surrounding carriermaterial, which opening communicates with the surrounding atmosphere.

A cylindrical signal means 7 constituting the operative part of theidentification device has been inserted into the cavity 5 through theopening 6. The signal means 7 that may comprise electronic components ofvarious kinds intended for signal communication with a sensing equipmentarranged at a distance from the identification device is very sensitiveand has to be well protected both mechanically and otherwise. After thesignal means 7 has been inserted into the cavity 5 the opening 6 may beprovided with a closing plug (not shown) or be closed in a differentmanner, e.g. by heating and deformation of the carrier material.

The identification device according to the invention may be made readyfor use without risk of destruction of the sensitive signal means 7.Thus, the capsule 2 with its cavity 5 may first be made without thesignal means 7 having to be in place at this stage. The capsule thusneed not be molded around the signal means 7, which might jeopardize thelater function of the signal means 7. After this the carrier materialmay be molded around the capsule while this is fixed in a mould by meansof a special holder extending into the cavity 5 of the capsule. Theholder then will form the opening 6 during the moulding of the carrier.Finally, as already explained, the signal means 5 may be introduced intothe capsule and the opening 6 be closed.

Also when used i.e. when the identification device is fastened to ananimal, the sensitive signal means 7 is protected from mechanicaldestruction, for instance by biting of other animals. The describedshape of the capsule makes it very resistant to damages by biting.

The plate formed plane part 1A of the carrier is flexible so that thecarrier part 1B which surrounds the capsule 2 has a certain movabilityin relation to the thicker portion 3 of the carrier, by means of whichthe identification device is fastened to the animal. This reduces therisk for damages on the animal during use of the identification device.Of course, the part of the identification device by means of which it isto be fastened to an animal may be formed in any suitable way.

FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of an identification deviceaccording to the invention. A capsule containing signal means issurrounded by carrier material at 8. The capsule is elongated and has atits ends members protruding laterally and also surrounded by carriermaterial at 9 and 10. A hole (not shown), through which the signal meanshas been inserted into the embedded capsule at one of its ends, has beenclosed by melting of carrier material around the hole.

I claim:
 1. An identification device adapted for attachment to an animalcomprising:a carrier made in one piece of a relatively soft material andhaving a first part adapted to be attached to the animal, a second partformed for enclosing a signal means for wireless cooperation withsensing equipment situated at a distance from the animal and a thirdpart interconnecting said first and second parts and formed to provideflexibility in the connection between the first and second parts; and acapsule carried by said second part of the carrier and made of arelatively hard material, said capsule having an inner cavity formed forreceiving the signal means, said soft carrier material being moldedaround said capsule and the capsule being formed in one piece and havingan opening communicating with said inner cavity for the introduction ofsaid signal means into said inner cavity.
 2. An identification device asset forth in claim 1, wherein the capsule is elongated with opposingends, said opening being situated at one of said ends.
 3. Anidentification device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said soft carriermaterial forms a thin layer substantially around the entire capsule. 4.An identification device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said carriermaterial is constituted of plastic.
 5. An identification device as setforth in claim 1, wherein said soft carrier material is formed as a thinlayer around the capsule, having only one opening adjacent at theopening of said capsule, said cavity of the capsule communicating withthe atmosphere around the identification device via the opening of thecapsule and the opening of said thin layer of said soft carriermaterial.
 6. An identification device as set forth in claim 5, whereinthe capsule is elongated with opposing ends, said opening of the capsulebeing situated at one of said ends.
 7. An identification devise as setforth in claim 6, wherein said thin layer is formed around substantiallythe entire capsule.
 8. An identification device as set forth in claim 5and further comprising signal means in said inner cavity of said capsuleand plug means in said opening of said soft carrier material forpreventing the signal means from leaving the capsule.